The Heartwood RYT 300/500 certification is a comprehensive 300 hour advanced yoga education program for yoga teachers who have already received their RYT-200 certification and are now looking to dive deeper into yoga theory and philosophy as well as refine their communication and information base to enhance their teaching skills. The program is geared to helping yoga professionals learn to make a viable career in health and wellness to deeply explore yoga specialties along with one on one mentoring to guide them in learning to present workshops, retreats and specialty classes. This coursework expands the skill-set for yoga teachers preparing them to authentically teach a variety of specialty classes.
Educational units include:
Ayurveda
Advanced Teaching Skills,
Advanced Meditation Weekend/Rounding,
Bhagavad Gita/Advanced study of Sutras/Philosophy,
Intro to Yoga Therapy,
Trauma Informed Yoga
Workshop and Retreat Planning and implementation.
Restorative Yoga Certification
Yin Yoga Certification
Chair Yoga Certification
Yoga for Seniors
Choice of Aerial Yoga Certification OR Reiki Master Certification
Journey through the Subtle Body (Vibrational Healing, crystals, Chakra cleansing and more.)
Authenticity
The Heartwood 300 hour immersion certification is recognized worldwide through Yoga Alliance. You can check Heartwood Yoga out on the Yoga Alliance website to see over 120 reviews from people who have graduated from our program and gone on to forge successful careers or positive life change. The program unfolds in a way that one concept stacks on another, so you leave with a deep understanding of yoga and the competence and confidence to share the practice with others if you do indeed plan to teach.
Experienced Teachers:
All instructors involved in yoga teacher training at Heartwood are E-RYT-500 certified or above, all are yoga therapists registered with IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapy) or LMT (Licensed Massage Therapists), Reiki masters and have other credentials to add to their experience.
Engaging Syllabus:
We follow a detailed syllabus to assure the program is progressive and comprehensive, and so students have notes to refer to later. These are long, very full days, yet inspirational and engaging. We are careful to pace the day to keep everyone's energy up and Heartwood is a very inspirational place, so we often move out of the yoga center to have a discussion around our fire pit (which is also a fountain if the weather is warmer) or under the shade of trees near the medicine wheel, or in our meditation gazebo. We have a gorgeous meditation garden that won a national award and was featured in Country Garden Magazine too, so we enjoy many inspirational environments to enhance our learning. We also spend one day at the nearby beach for outdoor class. Sarasota has the number one beach in America with soft white sand and beautiful sunsets and is a crystal vortex due to the natural quartz infused sand.
The Following is a more defined explanation of each educational unit (10-20 hours each depending on subject.)
Advanced Teaching & communication Skills
This 20-hour coursework includes material focused on a deeper understanding of hands on and adjusts, teaching and communication skills, advanced postures, props, and sequencing.
Ayurveda
This coursework includes 16 hours dedicated to Ayurveda basics and understanding the principals of Ayurveda yoga and healing, including Gunas, Agni, The five mahabuhutas: (five elements), the Tridoshas and how they affect our energies, prakriti (Body constitution), Ritucharya (Season Routines), and herbs and Ayurvedic cleansing techniques
Ayurvedic approaches to yoga add a new degree of awareness and teachers learn to adjust a practice to serve different body types and constitutions as well as seasonally.
Meditation & Rounding Practices
This 14 hour course that covers expanded techniques for practice and teaching meditation as well as experiential learning through “rounding” processes. Includes the theory and science of meditation, and a variety of specific meditation styles and practices including zen meditation, japa mala, mindfulness meditation, and more. Learn more
Trauma Informed Yoga
This course covers the anatomy & physiology of how trauma manifests on the body and mind, with the theory and practice to effectively teach to individuals who have experienced trauma. It includes trauma sensitive language & sequencing, as well as a review of the special considerations of yoga for survivors of sexual and physical abuse, eating disorders, addiction and recovery, veterans and first responders & yoga in the criminal justice system.
Philosophy
This course involves 15 hours to cover deeper perspectives on the Bhagavid Gita, the Yoga Sutras & the Upanishads.
Intro to Yoga Therapy - Advanced anatomy
This course reviews anatomy basics and goes on to deepen the studies to include a more involved look at the body and its functioning systems. We also explore the science and practices that help a yoga teacher work with students struggling with common physical issues such as Sciatica, Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, Hip and Knee replacements, Digestive Disorders, HBP, Migraines & Headaches, Scoliosis, Shoulder Injuries.
Restorative Yoga Certification
This 18-hour course explores the techniques and methodology of restorative yoga, a gentle, calming therapeutic style of practice that restores the nervous system. This training covers a broad range of healing techniques and modalities that can be incorporated into restorative classes, including theory and Science of restorative yoga, hands on assists, props and poses for restorative yoga, breathwork and guided imagery, yoga nidra, acupressure yoga and trigger points, essential oils for healing, gong and sound therapy for relaxing nervous system, restorative Sequencing & class pacing, and anatomy of the nervous system.
Yin Yoga Certification
Yin yoga training offers 16 contact hours devoted to yin studies that include the yin history, theory, methodology, sequencing and postures of yin yoga as a specific practice for spiritual, physical and energetic enhancement and as a compliment to a traditional yang practice. Two hours are devoted specifically to anatomy with special emphasis on ligaments and fascia tissue. This course also covers meridians and energy pathways as well as the use of essential oils to stimulate the energetic body.
Yoga for Seniors
Yoga for Seniors is a 16 hours course focused on the specific needs and considerations of older populations to help yoga teachers design and lead an appropriate senior yoga practice. The course includes anatomy for older populations, yoga for beginners, and material covering the following issues: Knee and hip replacements, Wrist & bone density issues, Cardiovascular Disease, Arthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Dementia/Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Parkinson's, the side effects of medications and specific emotional and physical challenges facing those age 60 and above. What to do in emergencies if accidents or medical problems occur in class. Posture modifications, props, & sequencing yoga for seniors is reviewed, as well as creative class ideas to keep seniors engaged, developing affirming attitudes and connections to the class and providing new ways to teach core yoga philosophy and practices.
Chair Yoga Certification
This 16-hour course will provide yoga teachers with a strong understanding of Chair Yoga: theory and practice. Participants will gain the skills required to bring yoga to students who might otherwise not be able to embrace a practice as you learn how to adapt the classical Yoga asanas to the chair rather than the floor in a therapeutic context. Material is offered for students of a variety of skill levels and circumstances, but the emphasis is for mature adults and those with physical limitations that need a chair to make yoga accessible. An anatomy segment focuses on deteriorating joints and common issues that senior clientele may be dealing with, such as Hip and knee replacements, Osteoporosis, Glycaemia, wrist weakness and loss of balance. A small portion of the seminar is devoted to more aggressive yoga practice techniques to explore how a chair can be incorporated into a traditional practice, or for office workers. Since the circumstances (and thus the chairs) may vary for different teaching situations, we make available and encourage the attendees to explore different chairs, including wheelchairs, office chairs, balance balls, and traditional yoga chairs.
Workshop and Retreat Planning and implementation.
This course is partially a group endeavor but includes independent study. It begins with 2 three-hour group lessons to learn how to plan, implement, and organize a workshop or retreat along any yogic theme or purpose. Students learn the dynamics of teaching a longer program, with budgeting, marketing, organizing, and the business of executing such a program. They are then expected to work one on one with the program directors to refine and evolved their individual workshop or retreat and they are encouraged to follow through and offer this to the public. Heartwood makes the facility available for the manifestation of these special programs (and we attend to offer feedback) or the student can host the program elsewhere and finish with follow up communications with us about what was learned.
STUDENTS CHOOSE BETWEEN THE NEXT TWO OPTIONS - EITHER PARTICIPATING IN THE REIKI MASTER PROGRAM OR AERIAL CERTIFICATION ON ONE WEEKEND.
Journey through the Subtle Body & Reiki Master Program
This course includes 16 hours of Reiki Master Training. Includes vibrational healing with Gong meditations & singing bowls, crystals & grids, Chakra cleansing, Auras and more.
Aerial Yoga Certification
Aerial is offered as an elective only for those students who have not already taken this course in their RYT-200 at Heartwood. Aerial Yoga weekend explores a wealth of alternative yoga exercises, assisted postures, and safe inversion techniques using the Om Gym system of yoga hammocks and handle supports as well as traditional Aerial Silks. We cover: History of aerial yoga, Aerial yoga class levels – designing a safe class for different skill levels/ using aerial slings for private sessions. Careful exploration and teaching techniques of more than 50 supported yoga poses based on Iyengar theory, physical safety issues and concerns, Warm-ups, proper pose progression, class sequencing. Yoga Therapeutics using gravity and the swing for effective spinal traction and/or internal cleansing. Inversion Theory of physiology and anatomy, Aerial teaching practicum and learning hands-on assists. Students in the Aerial program have training from 9-5pm and can join the subtle body gong meditation or crystal grid training in the evenings if they wish.
Our accommodations, if you are need to stay with us, are dorm style, with 4 or 5 people to a room with a shared bathroom. We also have an RV offering two private spaces that we use when our rooms are full. Please note we have space only for 11 people each session at this time, and usually the residencies fill early. The beds are full size, comfortable and the rooms feature lovely décor. Students don’t spend much time in the dorms, other than to sleep. The yoga center is open 24-7 and has a holistic library with couches, a lobby with internet, and a full service kitchen so if you want to get a snack, or find privacy to study, relax or just be, the center is only a few feet from the dorm space. The grounds are inviting too with a fire-pit you can visit at night, a garden and we have an art room making it possible to wander with a cup of tea, find a place to land to reflect or to be engaged in a mindful project. Laundry facilities are available too. We have complimentary bikes for a leisure ride to the nearby state park, or to get to area stores and eateries (4 miles) if you wish. We do not charge extra for staying here in our dorm facilities on the property, and this is made available for the convenience of those traveling to attend, so the accommodations are only for those coming from out of town are available on a first come first serve basis.
When our dorms fill, students are offered an option to stay in a private room with bath at the home of one of our fellow teachers who live close nearby. This can be a lovely option for privacy while taking advantage of no-fee accommodations. For this option, you will need a vehicle to get back and forth. They live close, but you will still need a car.
Local residents and people with family or friends in the area often attend these programs and ask if they can get a discount since they do not need accommodations. We do not offer a discount in these cases, because our pricing does not factor in overnight stays in setting tuition but does include a meal plan for everyone participating, and all materials.
Students who are staying with us are welcome to come a day early to get settled before the program (which begins on the first day at 9am) and leave the day after graduation. Check in time is 3pm and check out is 11:00am. We are happy to provide rides to the airport for RYT-200 or 300 programs the day before and after a program for flights during 10am and 8pm. If you arrive beyond these hours or on an alternate day, you would need to use an Urber or Lift. Shorter programs require you to provide your own transportation to and from Heartwood.
RYT-300 Immersion
Daily - 9:00-10:30 Asana Practice and break
10:30-6:00 Core Program with subjects as listed below
6:00-7:00 Dinner
7:00-9:00 Philosophy and Specialty workshops
Jan. 24-25 Advanced Teaching Skills
Jan. 26 & 27 Ayurveda
Jan. 28 Intro to Yoga Therapy
Jan. 29-30 Chair Yoga
Jan. 31 & Feb 1 Senior Yoga
Feb 2 & 3 Aerial yoga or Reiki Master Program
Feb. 4 & 5 Yin Yoga Certification
Feb. 6 Beach Day and rest of day off
Feb. 7 & 8 Trauma Yoga, Subtle Body & Anatomy
Feb.. 9 & 10 Restorative Yoga Certification
Feb.. 11 Workshop and Retreat Planning
Feb. 12 & 13 Adv. Meditation and Silent Rounding
Feb. 14 - classwork in morning. Graduation at 3:00 pm - We finish at 5:00 pm.